A coupled population dynamics and economic model is applied to the purse seine anchovy-fishery in the Gulf of Cádiz. The model simulates the population dynamics, landings and profits on a probabilistic frame. These simulations are used to assess the biological and economic consequences of an individual quota management framework enveloped by a fixed Total Allowable Catch (TAC), the present strategy used to manage this stock in the Spanish fishery. Our results accurately indicate that this strategy magnifies the biological and economic vulnerabilities associated with the exploitation of the stock, thus jeopardizing the sustainability of this fishery. Alternative strategies, such as an adaptive TAC, are explored. The results indicate that even a basic implementation of an adaptive TAC seems more favorable than the present strategy in the necessary equilibrium between profits and sustainability. This paper provides tools and an assessment that may also be useful for other small pelagic fisheries.

Abstract: Within this thesis, some of the major rigorous thermodynamic models available in the commercial process simulation tool Aspen Plus are tested for their suitability in the description of a process for the hydroformylation of dodecene in a DMF/decane thermomorphic solvent system, and applied within the rigorous process simulation of this system. The activity coefficient model NRTL is applied together with the rigorous Henry’s law, and its performance on LLE and GLE description is evaluated, respectively. In addition, the flexible equation of state model RKS, using modified Huron-Vidal mixing rules based on the activity coefficient method NRTL, is evaluated as well. Both methods are able to describe LLE and GLE within the range of process operation. The use of a purely predictive model PSRK or predictive methods to calculate required NRTL parameters is also evaluated. It is evidenced in this work that original UNIFAC method fails in the prediction of the LLE Tridecanal-DMF-Decane, so that only modified UNIFAC methods should be considered for a predictive calculation of this phase equilibria. The influence of the thermodynamic model selection on the simulation results is quantified and compared with available experimental data from a Miniplant with full recycle between reactor and decanter. This influence is found on the calculation of liquid molar volumes, which considerably affects simulation results. Resumen: En esta tesis, algunos de los principales modelos termodinámicos rigurosos disponibles en la herramienta comercial de simulación de procesos Aspen Plus son evaluados en su capacidad para describir un proceso de hidroformilación de dodeceno en un sistema termomórfico de solventes DMF/decano aplicado dentro de la simulación rigurosa de proceso de este sistema. El modelo de coeficiente de actividad NRTL se aplica junto con la ley rigurosa de Henry, y su desempeño en la descripción de los equilibrios líquido-líquido y gas-líquido es evaluada. Adicionalmente, también se evalúa el modelo de ecuación de estado RKS, usando las reglas de mezcla modificadas Huron-Vidal basadas en el método de coeficiente de actividad NRTL. Ambos métodos son capaces de describir los equilibrios líquido-líquido y gas-líquido dentro del rango de operación del proceso. El uso de un modelo puramente predictivo como el PRSK o métodos predictivos para calcular los parámetros NRTL requeridos también se evalúa. En este trabajo se evidencia que los métodos de UNIFAC originales fallan en la predicción del equilibrio líquido-líquido del sistema Tridecanal-DMF-Decano, de tal manera que sólo los métodos UNIFAC modificados deben ser considerados para el cálculo predictivo de este equilibrio de fases. La influencia de la selección del modelo termodinámico en los resultados de simulación de proceso es cuantificada y comparada con los datos experimentales disponibles de una Miniplanta con reciclo total entre el reactor y el decantador. Se encontró que el cálculo de los volúmenes molares de líquido afectan considerablemente los resultados de la simulación.

Abstract: A theoretical model that proposes the phenomenon of triple-bottom line investments as a promoter of social entrepreneurship is formulated in this work. To do this, an inductive methodological process supported by five Colombian study cases is used. The concept of triple bottom line investments is introduced as a very novel topic into the management literature. Results obtained allow us to un derstand the form in which this type of funding influences the dynamics of social entrepreneurship and the way previous experiences of the entrepreneurial team can become a possible moderator of the mentioned association. Finally, this work paves the path for eventual empirical tests of the suggested approach. Resumen: El presente trabajo formula un modelo teórico que propone el fenómeno de la financiación de triple resultado como promotor del emprendimiento social. Para ello, se emplea una metodología inductiva que hace uso de cinco casos de estudio en Colombia, presentando a la financiación de triple resultado como un concepto novedoso para la literatura en gestión. Los resultados obtenidos permiten entender y evidenciar la forma como la financiación de triple resultado actúa sobre la dinámica general del emprendimiento social y, además, la manera en que la experiencia previa del equipo emprendedor puede ser un posible condicionante de dicho vínculo. Finalmente, el trabajo prepara el terreno para una eventual comprobación empírica de la propuesta presentada.

The Strait of Gibraltar replenishes the Mediterranean with Atlantic waters through an intense eastward current known as the Atlantic Jet (AJ). The AJ fertilizes the southwestern Mediterranean and is considered to be the ultimate factor responsible for the comparatively high fish production of this region. Here, we perform an analysis of the available historical catches and catch per unit effort (CPUE), together with a long series of surface currents, kinetic energy and chlorophyll concentration. We show that the high kinetic energy of the AJ increases primary production but also negatively impacts the recruitment of anchovy. We contend that anchovy recruitment in the region is inhibited by the advection and dispersion of larvae and post-larvae during periods of strong advection by the AJ. The inhibitory impact of kinetic energy on anchovy landings is not a transient but rather a persistent state of the system. An exceptional combination of events creates an outbreak of this species in the Alboran Sea. These events depend on the Mediterranean-Atlantic exchange of water masses and, therefore, are highly sensitive to climate changes that are projected, though not always negatively, for fish landings.

Current research on automated vehicles focuses mainly on the drivers of automated vehicles, on its potential to improve the efficiency of traffic operations, safety, congestion and societal benefits, public’s acceptance of automated vehicles as a transport system and the willingness to buy automated vehicles. Nevertheless, there is a research gap in an equally important topic of research; the interactions of the automated vehicles with Vulnerable Road Users (VRU), i.e., cyclists and pedestrians. The WEpods (shuttle buses) are the first automated pods on public roads amidst other traffic, for an extended period of time in the province of Gelderland, in the Netherlands. The main research question revolves around the safety perception of vulnerable road users (VRUs) when interacting with automated vehicles, specifically at unsignalised intersections, and their crossing behaviour in comparison with traditional motor vehicles. The data on road users’ perception was gathered through face-to-face interviews (𝑁=22), a focus group (𝑁=8), and an online survey (𝑁=198). The results of this research showed that in terms of perceived safety, in general, VRUs (pedestrians and cyclists) feel significantly safer when sharing the road with the WEpods (max. speed of 15 𝑘𝑚/ℎ) compared to traditional motor vehicles (max. speed of 30 𝑘𝑚/ℎ). However, cyclists reported feeling less safe when interacting at unsignalised intersections with the automated vehicles, while there was not significant effect on pedestrians. Similarly, pedestrians more often opted for crossing facilities in the presence of the WEpods than in the presence of traditional motor vehicles (this can be interpreted as the result of perhaps feeling less safe), while no significant difference was reported for cyclists. Some of the reasons that could explain the trust in the WEpods are its low operational speed and the trust of most (81.1%) of the VRUs in the automated technology. This makes them expect the WEpods will stop in all possible instances, even when other traffic participants violate traffic rules. Surprisingly, a significant proportion (63.2%) of the participants was not aware of the presence of the steward on board of the WEpods. On the other hand, variables such as the awareness of the steward and having interacted with the WEpods increased the perceived safety amongst VRUs. Moreover, eye contact and gestures use as part of the actual interaction with human drivers of traditional motor vehicles particularly when crossing, was reported to be of importance by the respondents and has also been previously reported in the literature. The VRUs who said that they rely on cues given by drivers, more often indicated a preference to cross at dedicated facilities in the presence of the WEpods than those who stated not to depend on this type of communication. In order to substitute this lack of “real” interaction, information about the WEpods’ operations appeared to be desired by most of the participants in the form of visual information or a mix of auditory and visual. Finally, it was found that individual characteristics of the VRUs, such as their gender and other demographic variables could also have an impact on their perceived safety of VRUs interacting with the WEpods. The findings of the current research appear to point at a prudent attitude of cyclists and pedestrians in their interaction with automated vehicles. Nevertheless, this conservative mindset could be balanced by informing other road users about both, the features (e.g., the presence of a steward on board) and the limitations (e.g., the technology unable to respond to unexpected conditions) of the WEpods. It is considered that this information, along with a suitable communication of intentions of the vehicle to its surroundings are adequate tools to achieve a safe interaction between VRUs and automated vehicles.

Abstract: Greater local economic activity could improve children’s educational attainment by expanding the resources that could be invested in education. However, increased economic activity could also result in limited educational gains, as children may be induced into employment. This paper studies violence as an alternative explanation for the limited gains, focusing on Colombia, an oil-producing country with a long-standing civil conflict. Existing evidence shows that oil price shocks fuel civil conflicts; I explore whether increased violence undermines any positive effect greater oil resources might have on educational attainment by considering exogenous increases in international oil prices and geographic variations in oil production. Estimates suggest rising oil prices between 1998 and 2005 had limited effects on the number of years of schooling and whether children are behind grade for their age. Moreover, oil price shocks had small but surprising negative effects on primary school enrollment. My analysis reveals that the negative effects on younger children education might be driven by the aforementioned increase in civil conflicts and by additional oil resources being invested in sectors other than education. Resumen: Una economía más dinámica puede mejorar la escolaridad de los niños, a través de los mayores recursos que se inviertan en educación. Sin embargo, un mayor dinamismo también podría resultar en pocas ganancias educativas, si incentiva el trabajo infantil. El presente artículo explora la violencia como una explicación alterna a este fenómeno, enfocándose en Colombia, un país productor de petróleo que ha sufrido de un largo conflicto armado. Con base en evidencia existente que documenta la intensificación del conflicto armado causado por los aumentos en los precios del petróleo, éste artículo investiga si la mayor violencia destruye el efecto positivo de los mayores recursos petroleros en la escolaridad de los niños. Este artículo utiliza el aumento exógeno en los precios del petróleo y la variación geográfica en la producción de petróleo para identificar dicho efecto. Los resultados sugieren que el aumento en los precios del petróleo de 1998 a 2005 no tuvo ningún efecto en los años de escolaridad de los niños, ni en su probabilidad de estar atrasados en el colegio. Más aún, los aumentos en los precios del petróleo tuvieron efectos pequeños pero negativos en la matricula primaria. El análisis sugiere que éstos efectos negativos pueden darse debido a la intensificación del conflicto armado y a la inversión de los recursos petroleros en sectores diferentes a la educación.

This Master thesis is based on the Importance Performance Analysis technique introduced by Martilla and James (1977). The research main goal is to formulate managerial advice on which university choice determinants should be stressed and privileged in the VUB marketing strategy and targeted marketing, by collecting, processing and analyzing the scores related to the importance and performance perception from the 2nd year Master’s on Business Engineering students at the VUB, specially about their own university (VUB) and master’s program, as well as for the others Flemish Universities. The research comprised several steps including the collection, analysis and the evaluation of the different attributes that might have affected the university choice of the VUB 2nd year Master’s on Business Engineering students in the academic year 2015-2016. The final section of this master’s thesis is dedicated to present managerial advice to the VUB ES Faculty, using the information derived from the analysis of each quadrant of the absolute and relative importance – performance grids. Accordingly to the results obtained from the Master’s on Business Engineering students in the academic year 2015-2016 at the VUB, we can suggest that this Uniiversity is currently performing very well relative to its Flemish direct competitors (UGent, KULeuvan and UAntwerp). While the VUB “career opportunities”, “facilities”, “program and course description”, “university and campus environment”, “concern for students” and “facilities” have been scored with a higher performance compared with the other three Flemish Universities participating in this research, the “reputation” obtained a lower score relative to KULeuvan. “Career opportunities” has a higher relative performance score than these three Flemish Universities, however, is still found on the “concentrate here” quadrant, indicating that students perceive that they would have probably better careers opportunities if they would have followed their Master’s program in any of the other three Flemish Universities.

Abstract: The general purpose of this investigation was to study the differences between high-skill and intermediate-skill tennis players in gaze behaviors while performing tennis serve returns. Participants were asked to return 40 serves in four different serve locations while wearing a mobile eye-tracker. Their return performance was measured using a point system based on the ball’s first bounce that gave higher values to deep and angled returns. The study examined fixation onset and duration to four distinct locations: ball before bounce, the bounce area, ball after bounce, and impact zone. In addition, quiet-eye (QE) onset and durations were analyzed. Furthermore, the location of the racket-ball contact in relation to an egocentric frame of reference was calculated. Two-way and RM ANOVAs were used to test the hypotheses related to gaze behaviors. In addition, an analysis of coordinates and centroids were used to analyze egocentric gaze. Results indicated that high-skill players and shots classified as high score were characterized by fewer fixations of longer durations. Likewise, high-skill players displayed earlier QE onset and longer QE durations, in comparison to their less skilled counterparts. A comparison in QE between high scores and low scores shots revealed that the former were also characterized by an earlier QE onsets and longer QE. Pertaining to egocentric gaze, it was observed that high-skill players had a higher number of racketball contacts that occurred in central vision. Moreover, forehand and backhand racket-ball contacts were closer to the center in high-skill players, whereas intermediate skill players had racket-ball contacts further from the midpoint. Gaze behavior findings are discussed in the framework of the established relationship between QE periods, expertise, and performance. Egocentric gaze findings are discussed in relation to expertisebased differences in head stabilization and prediction of the ball-racket location. Limitations of the current study and suggestions for future studies are presented. To the author’s knowledge, this study is the first to analyze QE gaze behaviors in situ and the first to empirically test the role of egocentric gaze in tennis serve returns. Findings provide valuable insight into the relationship between gaze behaviors, QE periods, egocentric gaze, and expertise in a fast pace interceptive sport. Resumen: El propósito general de esta investigación era estudiar las diferencias entre jugadores de tenis de nivel alto e intermedio respecto a sus comportamientos de la mirada mientras respondían servicios. A los participantes se les pidió que respondieran a 40 servicios, dirigidos a cuatro lugares, mientras tenían puesto un rastreador ocular (eye-tracker). El desempeño de las devoluciones fue medido usando un sistema de puntos con base que otorgaba mayores valores a devoluciones profundas y con ángulo. El estudio analizó las fijaciones de la mirada en cuanto a su inicio, duración y finalización, en cuatro lugares específicos: la bola antes de rebotar, la zona de rebote, la bola después del rebote, y la zona de impacto. Adicionalmente, se analizó el “ojo-quieto” (quiet-eye; QE), tanto en su inicio, como en su duración. Finalmente, se calculó la localización del contacto bola-raqueta en relación con un marco de referencia egocéntrico. ANOVAS de doble-vía y de medidas repetidas fueron usadas para probar las hipótesis relacionadas con los comportamientos de la mirada. Adicionalmente, un análisis de las coordenadas y centroides se utilizó para analizar las miradas egocéntricas. Los resultados indicaron que los tanto los jugadores de alto nivel, como las devoluciones clasificadas como de alto puntaje, se caracterizaron por menos fijaciones, pero éstas eran de mayor duración. Adicionalmente, los jugadores de alto nivel mostraron un QE de inicio más temprano y de mayor duración, en comparación con los jugadores de nivel intermedio. Una comparación del QE entre devoluciones de alto y bajo puntaje, mostraron que los primeros se caracterizaban por QE de inicio más temprano y duración más larga. Con relación a la mirada egocéntrica, se observó que los jugadores de alto nivel tenían un mayor número de golpes que se dieron en visión central. Los contactos bola-raqueta se dieron más cerca del centro de visión tanto en devoluciones de derecha como de revés para los jugadores de alto nivel, mientras que dichos contactos fueron más alejados del centro de visión. Los comportamientos visuales son discutidos dentro de los marcos teóricos que han relacionado el QE, experticia y desempeño superior. Los hallazgos de la mirada egocéntrica se discuten con relación a las diferencias basadas en la experticia en estabilización de la cabeza y predicción del lugar en que la bola y raqueta harán contacto. Las limitaciones de este estudio son presentadas, así como sugerencias para estudio futuros. Para el conocimiento del autor, este es el primer estudio que analiza comportamientos visuales que incluyen el QE in situ con tenistas. Adicionalmente, es el primero estudio que analiza empíricamente el rol de la mirada egocéntrica en la devolución de servicios en tenis. Los hallazgos ofrecen un conocimiento valioso de la relación entre comportamientos visuales, QE, mirada egocéntrica y experticia en un deporte de intercepción de alta velocidad.

Abstract: This thesis lies in the opportunities and challenges opened to the land use planning in Colombia, once the Congress endorsed the Peace Agreement, the past 2016, since one of its components is the Comprehensive Rural Reform. It aims to analyze the possibilities to articulate those compromises acquired regarding land, with the Colombian land use planning system and its legislation in pursuit of lasting peacebuilding. The thesis suggests this link as definitive and efficient along the way to switch the relation with the land in Colombia, from the historical alliance land-conflict to one contemporaneous, of land-peace. Resumen: Esta tesis radica en las oportunidades y retos abiertos al ordenamiento territorial en Colombia, una vez el Congreso aprobó el Acuerdo de Paz, el pasado 2016, ya que uno de sus componentes es la Reforma Rural Integral. Se trata de analizar las posibilidades para articular esos compromisos adquiridos con relación a la tierra, con el sistema de ordenamiento territorial colombiano y su legislación en búsqueda de una paz duradera. La tesis sugiere este vínculo como definitivo y eficiente en el camino para cambiar la relación con la tierra en Colombia, de la histórica relación de la tierra y el conflicto armado, a una relación contemporánea de tierra y paz.

Resumen: De cara a la modernidad, políticas migratorias y prácticas sociales excluyentes en Colombia, entre 1880 y 1980, quisieron impedir la llegada de inmigrantes árabes al país y dificultaron su integración en la sociedad. Aunque el proceso de movilidad social de inmigrantes fue exitoso y significativo para la construcción de la nación, integrarse y asimilarse causó su invisibilización. Ya ad portas del siglo XXI, la convergencia de una serie de fenómenos culturales provocaron la eclosión de la práctica de la danza árabe escénica a través de la figura nacional de Shakira. En cuanto fenómeno cultural global y por su creciente y rápida diseminación en varias ciudades del país, esta práctica dancística cobra un especial interés investigativo sobre su papel social en relación con la inclusión de la población árabe en el discurso de nación de Colombia. La exploración de sentidos de identidad nacional a través de documentos, entrevistas a sujetos danzantes y trabajo etnográfico devela las tensiones que en doble vía genera la exclusión social de dos grupos minoritarios en el país, pero que desde esta práctica dancística, en particular, han devenido en mecanismos de otrificación que repercuten en el reconocimiento tanto de personas árabes como de colomboárabes del país, causando así su invisibilización. Abstract: In regards to modernity, migratory policies and social exclusion practices in Colombia, between 1880 and 1980, wanted to prevent the arrival of Arab immigrants to the country and hindered their integration into society. Although the process of social mobility of immigrants was successful and meaningful for the construction of the nation, integration and assimilation caused their invisibility. Now on the verge of the twenty-first century, the convergence of a number of cultural phenomena caused the emergence of the practice of scenic Arabic dance through the national figure of Shakira. As a global cultural phenomenon and its growing and quick spreading in several cities, the practice of this dance has a special investigative interest about its social role regarding to the inclusion of the Arab population in the nation’s discourse of Colombia. The exploration of meanings of national identity through documents, interviews with dancing individuals and ethnographic work reveal the tensions that in two-way generate social exclusion of two minority groups in the country, but from the practice of this dance, they have particularly become in othering mechanisms affecting recognition of Arab people and Arab-Colombians from the country and cause their invisibility.